Nelda’s special project, “The Alaska Suite,” is inspired by the impacts of climate change, and features the emotional power of multiple mediums — spoken words, images, poetry and her five-piece chamber jazz ensemble: Julian Smedley (violin), Clif Swiggett (trombone/percussion), Nelda Swiggett (piano/compositions), Adam Kessler (drums), and Chris Symer (bass).
Nelda’s love and concern for the natural world started early. She is a Seattle native, and spent her childhood hiking, climbing and skiing the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Her father Jack Christiansen was a passionate explorer of the wilderness. From a young age, Nelda followed him deep into the heart of the Olympic and Cascade mountains, mostly off trail, route finding with map and compass.
When Nelda entered the University of Washington, she was a classical piano performance major, until a serious ski accident landed her in a hospital bed in traction for two months. When she returned to college, she dropped out of the music program, fell in love with jazz, earned a Bachelor of Science in Scientific and Technical Communication, and embarked on a dual career as a technical writer and jazz musician. Who knew this combination of experiences and skills would later inspire her to communicate the science of climate change through the power of music.
Watch videos about the Alaska Suite.